Album
Sketches Of Spain
1960 · Jazz
110 collectors on Gatefold own this
Sketches Of Spain is a Jazz album by Miles Davis, originally released in 1960. On Gatefold: 374 pressings tracked, owned by 110 collectors.
About
Between May of 1957 and March of 1960, Miles Davis collaborated with the composer and arranger Gil Evans to create a trilogy of masterpieces for large jazz ensemble. <i>Sketches of Spain</i>, the last of the three, is a dazzling work, not only for the glowing, magisterial orchestrations, but for the stunning solo work by Davis, among his most expressive and affecting. The centerpiece of the album is a November 1959 recording of the adagio from "Concierto de Aranjuez," a 20th century Spanish composition by Joaquin Rodrigo. The band plays with beauty and splendor, content to stick closely to the score. The remaining tracks were recorded in March of the following year. "Will O' the Wisp" comes from a Manuel de Falla ballet while "The Pan Piper" is based on a mystical Peruvian Indian folk melody. The final two tracks are adaptations of old Andalusian flamenco. "Saeta" is a religious march tune that quiets in the middle to allow Davis' mournful, wailing horn the spotlight. "Solea" builds slowly atop the lightly prancing percussion of Jimmy Cobb, Elvin Jones, and crew, a blend of Latin polyrhythms and modal jazz. Davis' inspired improvisations on these two tracks are on another plane, smoldering with emotion.
via Apple Music
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Tracklist
Side A
- A1Concierto De Aranjuez16:19
- A2Will O' The Wisp3:50
Side B
- B1The Pan Piper3:53
- B2Saeta5:08
- B3Solea12:14
Sound DNA
- Jazz
- Post-Bop & Modal
- lush
- mournful
- cinematic
Release Date: Jul 18, 1960
Recording Period: Nov 1959 - Mar 1960
RIAA Certification: Platinum
Label: Columbia Records
Miles Davis, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Al Block, Flute
Bernie Glow, Trumpet
Dick Hixon, Trombone
Earl Chapin, French Horn
Eddie Caine, Flute
Elvin Jones, Percussion
Ernie Royal, Trumpet
Frank Rehak, Trombone
Gil Evans, Arranger, Conductor
Harold Feldman, Oboe, Clarinet, Flute
Jack Knitzer, Bassoon
Janet Putnam, Harp
Jimmy Buffington, French Horn
Jimmy Cobb, Drums
Jimmy McAllister, Tuba
John Barrows, French Horn
José Manguel, Percussion
Louis Mucci, Trumpet
Paul Chambers, Bass
Romeo Penque, Oboe
Taft Jordan, Trumpet
Johnny Coles, Trumpet
Joe Singer, French Horn
Tony Miranda, French Horn
Bill Barber, Tuba
Danny Bank, Bass Clarinet
Teo Macero, Producer
Irving Townsend, Producer
Fred Plaut, Engineer
GRAMMY Hall of Fame Inductee, Feb 26, 1997
Sketches of Spain has been hailed by music critics as one of the best recordings of the Third Stream genre, which is described as a fusion of jazz, European classical, and world music styles. After Miles Davis and his wife Frances Davis attended a flamenco performance by dancer Roberto Iglesias, Davis was so inspired that he purchased every flamenco album he could find at a New York record shop.
The album is a pairing between Davis and arranger and composer Gil Evans, with whom he had collaborated before, for a set of compositions in the Spanish folk tradition. The first piece, taking up the majority of the first side, is the adagio movement from Concierto de Aranjuez. Both Evans and Davis agreed that the song had a "strong" melody. The next song, "Will o' the Wisp", is from the ballet titled El amor brujo. The third song, "The Pan Piper" is a traditional piece. The final two songs, "Saeta" and "Solea", are original compositions written by Evans.
The album has been ranked 358th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list and according to Acclaimed Music, Sketches of Spain is the 393rd most ranked album on music critics' all-time lists. In response to comments that the album is something other than jazz, Davis replied, "It's music, and I like it."
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Al BlockFLUTE
- Albert BlockFLUTE
- Bernie GlowTRUMPET
- Bill BarberTUBA
- Danny BankALTO FLUTE BASS CLARINET BASS CLARINET , FLUTE
- Dock HixsonTROMBONE
- Earl ChapinFRENCH HORN FRENCH HORN , OBOE
- Eddie CaineFLUTE
- Elvin JonesDRUMS PERCUSSION
- Ernie RoyalTRUMPET
- Frank RehakTROMBONE
- Gil EvansARRANGED BY , CONDUCTOR ARRANGED BY, CONDUCTOR ARRANGED BY, CONDUCTOR, PIANO
- Gil Evans And His OrchestraORCHESTRA
- Harold FeldmanBASS CLARINET BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , FLUTE , OBOE CLARINET
- Jack KnitzerBASSOON
- Janet PutnamHARP
- Jay McAllisterTUBA
- Jim BuffingtonFRENCH HORN HORN TRUMPET
110 collectors on Gatefold own this · 374 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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